Project Highlights

Purpose

The purpose of the Harrisburg Transportation Center (HTC) Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) initiative is to redevelop the blighted area north and east of the station while increasing train and bus ridership.

​Description

PennDOT led a TOD study for a four-block (approximately 60-acre) area behind the HTC between State and Mulberry Streets, Cameron Street, and the train tracks. Visioning Week, held in September 2016, was the centerpiece of a multifaceted public engagement strategy.

The TOD study determined that the HTC and a number of adjacent and nearby properties possess potential for new, transit-oriented, mixed-use development, which could encourage wider use of rail, bicycle, and pedestrian transportation modes. The project yielded design concepts and potential site plans that were presented at a community open house in December 2016.

Following input from the open house, a master plan was developed to establish an implementation phasing plan to meet the following goals:​​

​Leverage the HTC as a multimodal asset;

Increase ridership on the Keystone Corridor rail line and create greater efficiencies for existing public transportation;

Serve as a cornerstone to help define and support sustainable redevelopment in the TOD study area;

Increase connectivity to the train station from surrounding employment centers and residential districts in the downtown area and nearby neighborhoods;

Create a pedestrian-, bicycle-, and transit-friendly environment around the TOD study area; and

The flood potential of nearby Paxton Creek was identified during the study as a critical concern. The Paxton Creek Master Plan, developed concurrently with the HTC TOD Master Plan, provides a comprehensive strategy to restore the natural ecological function of the creek through the study area to reduce flooding and support TOD development. PennDOT is conducting detailed field surveys, hydrologic analysis, and preliminary design to confirm project feasibility and acquire the necessary federal and state permits. For the full Paxton Creek Master Plan, see the links under Documents on this page.​

Implementation of the HTC TOD Master Plan is designed to be completed in phases:

HTC station rehabilitation

Paxton Creek flood control and greenspace development

Streetscaping and traffic calming improvements

Pedestrian bridge (over the tracks connecting the station to parking and TOD areas)

East station entrance site development

Intercity bus terminal relocation

HTC plaza on Market Street

These concepts may advance for further study and/or implementation through future multi-disciplined public- and private-sector efforts.

status

Planning began in June 2016 and multiple conceptual design scenarios were unveiled at an open house in December 2016. The Paxton Creek study was initiated in April 2017. The TOD Master Plan and Paxton Creek Master Plan were released in March 2018, followed by another public open house to discuss the plans and potential implementation​​.